Arrowheadlines: Kansas City Chiefs News 7/24

Chiefs Hit The Practice Field, Shake Off Rust from The Mothership

The Kansas City Chiefs QBs, rookies and previously injured players took to the practice fields Tuesday morning, working individual drills, as well as 7-on-7 and some 11-on-11. The roughly two-hour practice gave Chiefs head coach Andy Reid plenty of time to assess the team's work.

"It's good to get everybody back in the swing of things," coach Reid said. "Good to have the QBs out here, leading the way. I thought the retention was good, getting our footing and our speed up, on both sides of the ball, I think is important. We're not there yet. I was happy with the effort."

Chiefs Spend First Practice On Passing Game As Alex Smith Runs Hurry-Up Offense from KC Star

The Chiefs ran their hurry-up, no-huddle offense during the brief team portion of practice, which was devoted completely to the passing game. Quarterback Alex Smith wasted little time finding rookie tight end Travis Kelce with his first two passes, one an over-the-shoulder grab by Kelce, the other on a check-down.

Commings Breaks Collarbone, Reid Shares First-Day Impressions from KC Star

Chiefs coach Andy Reid was happy with what he saw Tuesday from the rookies, quarterbacks and selected veterans in the first practice of camp at Missouri Western.

"It's good to have everyone back in the swing of things," Reid said. "It's good to have the quarterbacks here leading the way. The retention (from the off-season program) was good. Getting our footing and speed up on both sides of the ball was important. We're not there yet. I was happy with the effort.

Chiefs Rookies With Local Ties, Common Goals from The Mothership

The Kansas City Chiefs are currently in meetings, including three rookies, two former Kansas Jayhawks and a Missouri Tiger, each looking to make an impact during his first NFL training camp.

Chiefs FB Toben Opurum played DE/LB for the Kansas Jayhawks, teamed with current Chiefs safety Bradley McDougald, who played at the safety spot for KU. Chiefs DL Brad Madison played defensive end at the University of Missouri and now, all three are teammates with a common goal, making the most of their given opportunity with the Chiefs.

The three players took a few moments out of their busy schedules to answer a variety of questions.

Q&A With Chiefs Deep Snapper And Defensive Lineman Brad Madison from KC Star

Why, as an undrafted free agent, did you choose the Chiefs?

"I had a few teams I could have gone to ... the Chiefs were close to home. I feel like they wanted me here. Close to home was nice. My family could be around, and that's big, especially when you're a rookie. I can stick around, it will help me out a lot."

Alex Smith Rated As NFL's 20th-Best Starting QB By ESPN from KC Star

Such lists are somewhat subjective, but Jaworski is a former NFL quarterback who watches enough tape that his opinion is one to be listened to. And 20th sounds about right for Smith. Smith held his own over the past couple of seasons with the three quarterbacks listed ahead of him (Dalton, Carolina's Cam Newton at 18 and Rivers). Smith two years ago guided the 49ers to the brink of a Super Bowl appearance and last season was leading the league in passer rating when he was benched.

KCChiefs.com Video: Welcome To St. Joseph!

KCChiefs.com Video: Training Camp: Mike Catapano Press Conference

KCChiefs.com Photo Gallery: First Day Back

St. Joseph News-Press Photo Gallery: 7/23/13 Training Camp

Alex Smith: 'Expectations Are High' from The Associated Press via ESPN

The first pass that Alex Smith threw on Tuesday was to Tony Moeaki, who might have a hard time making the Kansas City Chiefs after an injury-plagued start to his career.

Then came passes to Tyler Shoemaker, Rico Richardson and Junior Hemingway. It was about as modest of a start as you could get to Smith's first training camp with the Chiefs -- a bunch of throws to wide receivers who may not be around in six weeks.

Still, those passes on an unseasonably cool morning on the campus of Missouri Western represented the first step by Smith toward fulfilling expectations that have steadily grown ever since he was acquired from the 49ers this past offseason.

Former Ute Alex Smith Eager To Prove Himself - Again from The Deseret News

Now, an offseason trade to the Kansas City Chiefs has given Smith more motivation to prove himself all over again.

"Of course I'm motivated," Smith said last Saturday following the second round of the American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament near Lake Tahoe. "Sitting there and watching and not playing toward the end of the year was incredibly frustrating, so this is what I wanted. I wanted an opportunity and wanted it to happen in Kansas City, and it did. It's my job now to go out and make the most of it."

Chiefs' Commings Breaks Collarbone from The Associated Press via FOX Sports

The Chiefs hadn't yet scheduled surgery Tuesday night, and a team spokesman said it wasn't known how long Commings will be out. He was expected to provide depth in a secondary that underwent a massive overhaul this past offseason.

Trent Dilfer Says Chris Ault's Pistol Is 'The Best Offense We've Seen In Years' from The Reno Gazette-Journal

"It's here to stay," Dilfer said. "It's nothing like the wildcat. In fact, I'm starting to get offended by people comparing it to the wildcat. It shows a lack of understanding of football. The wildcat is a gimmicky run offense. The Pistol is the benefit of a shotgun offense, a downhill, I-back formation, you can get wishbone elements in it. There's a lot of misdirection, and it gives the quarterback space to do a lot of things."

In Kansas City, Ault will work with head coach Andy Reid, who ran a West Coast offense with the Philadelphia Eagles. The Chiefs also hired former NFL head coach Brad Childress as a senior offensive assistant. Former 49ers starting quarterback, Alex Smith, was traded to Kansas City in the offseason.

Draughn Part Of early Veteran Presence from The St. Joseph News-Press

Shaun Draughn already knows the value of a strong preseason.

As one of only a handful of veterans already at Chiefs training camp, the rookies can look to him for advice - even if the running back's NFL experience is limited. On Tuesday, the Chiefs held the first of three non-public practices at Missouri Western with rookies, quarterbacks and selected eligible veterans, a valuable chance at repetitions for unproven guys looking to catch Kansas City coaches' eye during the next three weeks.

Chambers, CVB Engage Businesses In Chiefs Camp from The St. Joseph News-Press

Lindsay Bernard, the bureau's visitor relations/sales manager, said 2,500 packets were prepared for distribution along 14 different business routes across the city. Members of the chamber's Diplomats Club spearheaded the drive, with assistance from other volunteers.

Each information packet includes a Chiefs camp guide, city map, visitor's guide, camp schedule, and fan logistics prepared by Western. A city map is included with the guide.

Keeler: Can Reid And Smith Co-Exist At Chiefs Camp? from FS Kansas City

The Saga of Alex and Andy. The Saga of Andy and Alex. Hope and Crosby in cleats, on the road to Lord-knows-where. A book full of empty pages, just waiting to be filled in.

With what, of course, is still anybody's guess. Because based on their respective resumes to this point, it's an odd pair, a mash-up of styles and mindsets.

Consider this: Over the past 13 seasons, Reid's offenses have ranked among the top 10 in the NFL in pass attempts eight different times. In seven years as a pro, Smith, the Chiefs' new starting quarterback, has wound up among the NFL's top 10 in pass attempts per game just once, in 2009 (33.8).

Chiefs get Fresh Start After Franchise Face-Lift from The Associated Press via The Wichita Eagle

CEO Clark Hunt hired former Eagles coach Andy Reid to replace the fired Romeo Crennel, then plucked away longtime Packers personnel man John Dorsey to overhaul the roster.

About half of the faces will be new when the full squad reports to camp on Thursday.

"I'm never content. Even if we win the Super Bowl, I won't be content," Dorsey said. "At the end of the day, what you're measured with is if you leave this place better. You establish a tradition, of sustaining on a year-in and year-out basis winning football teams. To me, then you've done your job."

If that's the case, the Chiefs have a long way to go. Here's five things to watch as they seek just their second winning season since 2006.

Chiefs Presence Helps Spark Development Of Rehab Hospital In Overland Park from Kansas City Business Journal

A Pennsylvania health care company said Tuesday that it will build a 45-bed rehabilitation hospital in Overland Park. The project will create an estimated 150 new jobs.

But it wasn't local economic incentives that drew them here - it was the football teams.

Ron's Ramblings from The Coal Valley News

With the arrival of the pro football season in just a few weeks, it will be an exciting time for local fans who recall the exploits of Jordan Roberts while he was suiting up for the Scott Skyhawks.

Roberts has been able to visit the local area and spend some time with his family in recent weeks but soon it will be off to labor for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League.

Peyton Hillis Never Fit With Chiefs from ESPN

Running back Peyton Hillis signed with Tampa Bay on Tuesday. The 27-year-old spent last season with the Chiefs, but the new Kansas City regime had no interest in bringing him back. The Chiefs took running back Knile Davis (from Hillis' alma mater, Arkansas) in the third round as a backup for star Jamaal Charles.

Eye On Kansas City from Bolt Beat

Mostly importantly, what will make this team look different from what their record suggests will be indicative of its newest addition, Andy Reid. Andy Reid coached the Philadelphia Eagles for 14 season, winning 1 NFC Championship, appearing in 5 NFC Championship games and 9 playoff appearances. Reid capped off his tenured in the city of brotherly love with his worse record to date as a head coach at 4-12. Whether Reid still has what it takes to win games is in question, but nobody should underestimate his football aptitude and knowledge of the game.

Larry Johnson Sentenced To Probation, Counseling from SB Nation

Former Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson pleaded no contest to domestic violence charges on Tuesday. He has been sentenced to one year of probation and ordered to pay a $345 fine, perform 48 hours of community service, have no contact with the victim or her family, and attend six months of mandatory counseling.